Long Noncoding RNA MNX1-AS1 Knockdown Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Migration in Ovarian Cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as pivotal regulators that govern fundamental biological processes and disease pathogenesis. LncRNA MNX1-AS1 has been reported to promote cell proliferation and invasion in gallbladder cancer, but its biological role and regulatory mechanism in ovarian cancer are poorly defined. In this study, it was found that higher expression of lncRNA MNX1-AS1 is closely associated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and lymphatic metastasis in ovarian cancer patients. RNA interference (RNAi) to downregulate the expression of lncRNA MNX1-AS1 was used in the ovarian cancer cell lines, OVCA433 and SKOV-3. CCK-8, EdU staining, and colony formation assays was used to test the viability and proliferation ability of these cells. Wound healing and transwell migration assays were performed to determine the migration ability of the cells. Cell cycle progression and apoptotic assays were carried out using flow cytometry. These in vitro loss-of-function experiments revealed that downregulation of lncRNA MNX1-AS1 suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration ability, induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, and promoted apoptosis. Furthermore, MNX1-AS1 knockdown altered the protein expressions of CDK4, cyclin D, Bax, and Bcl-2. These findings demonstrated for the first time that lncRNA MNX1-AS1 functions as an oncogene in ovarian cancer and could be a potential target for this disease.